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6 Signs The US May Be Headed for War in Iran
Is the United States moving toward military action with Iran?
The resignation of the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East is setting off alarms that the Bush administration is intent on using military force to stop Iran's moves toward gaining nuclear weapons. In announcing his sudden resignation today following a report on his views in Esquire, Adm. William Fallon didn't directly deny that he differs with President Bush over at least aspects of the president's policy on Iran. For his part, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said it is "ridiculous" to think that the departure of Fallon -- whose Central Command has been working on contingency plans for strikes on Iran as well as overseeing Iraq -- signals that the United States is planning to go to war with Iran.
Fallon's resignation, ending a 41-year Navy career, has reignited the buzz of speculation over what the Bush administration intends to do given that its troubled, sluggish diplomatic effort has failed to slow Iran's nuclear advances. Those activities include the advancing process of uranium enrichment, a key step to producing the material necessary to fuel a bomb, though the Iranians assert the work is to produce nuclear fuel for civilian power reactors not weapons.
Here are six developments that may have Iran as a common thread. And, if it comes to war, they may be seen as clues as to what was planned. None of them is conclusive, and each has a credible non-Iran related explanation:
1. Fallon's resignation: With the Army fully engaged in Iraq, much of the contingency planning for possible military action has fallen to the Navy, which has looked at the use of carrier-based warplanes and sea-launched missiles as the weapons to destroy Iran's air defenses and nuclear infrastructure. Centcom commands the U.S. naval forces in and near the Persian Gulf. In the aftermath of the problems with the Iraq war, there has been much discussion within the military that senior military officers should have resigned at the time when they disagreed with the White House.
2. Vice President Cheney's peace trip: Cheney, who is seen as a leading hawk on Iran, is going on what is described as a Mideast trip to try to give a boost to stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. But he has also scheduled two other stops: One, Oman, is a key military ally and logistics hub for military operations in the Persian Gulf. It also faces Iran across the narrow, vital Strait of Hormuz, the vulnerable oil transit chokepoint into and out of the Persian Gulf that Iran has threatened to blockade in the event of war. Cheney is also going to Saudi Arabia, whose support would be sought before any military action given its ability to increase oil supplies if Iran's oil is cutoff. Back in March 2002, Cheney made a high-profile Mideast trip to Saudi Arabia and other nations that officials said at the time was about diplomacy toward Iraq and not war, which began a year later.
3. Israeli airstrike on Syria: Israel's airstrike deep in Syria last October was reported to have targeted a nuclear-related facility, but details have remained sketchy and some experts have been skeptical that Syria had a covert nuclear program. An alternative scenario floating in Israel and Lebanon is that the real purpose of the strike was to force Syria to switch on the targeting electronics for newly received Russian anti-aircraft defenses. The location of the strike is seen as on a likely flight path to Iran (also crossing the friendly Kurdish-controlled Northern Iraq), and knowing the electronic signatures of the defensive systems is necessary to reduce the risks for warplanes heading to targets in Iran.
4. Warships off Lebanon: Two U.S. warships took up positions off Lebanon earlier this month, replacing the USS Cole. The deployment was said to signal U.S. concern over the political stalemate in Lebanon and the influence of Syria in that country. But the United States also would want its warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the event of military action against Iran to keep Iranian ally Syria in check and to help provide air cover to Israel against Iranian missile reprisals. One of the newly deployed ships, the USS Ross, is an Aegis guided missile destroyer, a top system to defense against air attacks.
5. Israeli comments: Israeli President Shimon Peres said earlier this month that Israel will not consider unilateral action to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. In the past, though, Israeli officials have quite consistently said they were prepared to act alone -- if that becomes necessary -- to ensure that Iran does not cross a nuclear weapons threshold. Was Peres speaking for himself, or has President Bush given the Israeli an assurance that they won't have to act alone?
6.Israel's war with Hezbollah: While this seems a bit old, Israel's July 2006 war in Lebanon against Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces was seen at the time as a step that Israel would want to take if it anticipated a clash with Iran. The radical Shiite group is seen not only as a threat on it own but also as a possible Iranian surrogate force in the event of war with Iran. So it was important for Israel to push Hezbollah forces back from their positions on Lebanon's border with Israel and to do enough damage to Hezbollah's Iranian-supplied arsenals to reduce its capabilities. Since then, Hezbollah has been able to rearm, though a United Nations force polices a border area buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
Defense Secretary Gates said that Fallon, 63, asked for permission to retire. Gates said the decision, effective March 31, was entirely Fallon's and that Gates believed it was "the right thing to do." In Esquire, an article on Fallon portrayed him as opposed to President Bush's Iran policy and said he was a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program. In his statement, Fallon said he agreed with the president's "policy objectives" but was silent on whether he opposed aspects of the president's plans. "Recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the president's policy objectives have become a distraction at a critical time and hamper efforts in the Centcom region," Fallon, said in the statement issued by Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Fla. "And although I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there," he said. Gates announced that Fallon's top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, will take over temporarily when Fallon leaves. A permanent successor, requiring nomination by the president and confirmation by the Senate, might not be designated in the near term.
© 2008 US News & World Report
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Show All6 Signs The US Will Not Be Heading For War:
1. No plausible justification since the release of latest NIE.
2. Ground forces already stretched thin and bogged down in two occupation campaigns, whilst recruitment numbers diminish.
3. Air-only based attacks have no strategic value. (Only worldwide political condemnation would result.)
4. Certain closure of Straits of Hormuz resulting in catastrophically hiked oil prices.
5. Iraq/Afghan insurgency certain to intensify.
6. Iran is well defended and her soldiers motivated.
- Only 6? -
[7. Russia is a close economic ally of Iran, and has supplied state-of-the-art weaponry and expertise
8. China too.]
As frightening as Terry Atlas's evidence is, I care to err on the side of optimism and hope that the rational minds in the leadership win out.
Fear not.
S March, have you ever had borscht? Well, that's Russian.
With black bread and dead fish eggs, and a form of rotted Korean kemshi.
Fear not, ~Samski~? ___ You HOPE that the "rational minds" in the leadership win out. I hope so too however, "We have a problem Houston". ___ What rational minds, would have invaded Iraq, especialy with no plans of what to do once we did it ?
What RATIONAL minds would have supported NAFTA, without some strong and inforceable rules? What rationl minds would have taken care of the Katrina victems as they were? What rational minds would continue to allow Halliburton and KBR to earn billions for doing almost nothing of any value and over-charging us tax-payers for every service they did provide? What rational minds would build a $76 billion dollar embassy in Baghdad, especially when we seemed to get along just fine, when we never have had an embassy there?
Sorry, but MY optomism has been destroyed during the past seven years, EXCEPT, I am optomistic, that we are going straight down the toilet and into the sorry ass cess-pool of failed once great nations.
I once had a Russian neighbor. Some kind of engineer, and when his wife went to the movies, out would come the vodka bottle. She yelled at him if he drank. One afternoon, he told me to come over in the early evening for a vodka or two. The guy cooked up a batch of fried potatos, onions, and mushrooms, and we ate that along with a loaf of Russian black bread. Several hours later and after so many toasts of "nastrovia", the bottle was three quarters empty. The Russkie said, "for an American, you can hold your own. I like you." Words to that effect. He was worried about the wife coming home, hid what was left of the vodka, and walked me to the door. He was amazed I was still on my feet, and he looked and acted as if he was drinking milk or juice. Several minutes later at home and on my bed, my head started spinning like a top and I was getting seasick. The next morning was vomit city for me and my head was still spinning. I peaked out the window and saw him working in the garden, fit as a fiddle. That's my Russian "food" experience.
Look at the two children in the photo. Every child is beautiful, but these two? My god.
Let them live. Let them have a childhood of some small wonder and some small joy. Don't let their innocent eyes grow old with the sorrows and miseries of war.
Call your congresspeople. At the same time, call on your angels, your gods and goddesses, your spiritual mothers and fathers to protect these two - and the millions like them.
Fear is a commodity in excessive supply. Had my fill, ~Kem~. Cold War was a gas. No fireworks though.
Look at how fear is used by the maestro-in-chief. In the US, terror has gripped almost everyone into submission. No need to apply any more, not domestically anyway.
The article's 6 signs can be interpreted to mean that US policy towards Iran is one of extreme intimidation only, barking with no intention to bite.
Fear down. Heavy.
Are Americans rational?
Or has the rest of the world been right all along with the arch-stereotype "Crazy Americans"?
Googly moogly, you sound scarily exactly like the people who laughed at Hitler an the 'nervous nellies' who were actually getting concerned about him and his Nazi nutjob henchmen. Kem Patrick is right about one thing, if something were to disrupt the supply stream of food and fuel to our cities we would be in deep shite. There are many more of us and we are a lot less self sufficient than ever, and spoiled, and violent.
i'm sorry those links earlier didn't work the articles are cited below......
Feb 21, 2006 ...
Iran, Oil and Euros: The War Scenario Gwynne Dyer, Arab News
October 10, 2003..
Putin: Why Not Price Oil in Euros? Catherine Belton Moscow Times
-------------------
another essay that puts petro dollars into perspective.
17 Jan 2006.
The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse by Krassimir Petrov
http://www.energybulletin.net/12125.html
"The man that actually did demand Euro for his oil was Saddam Hussein in 2000. At first, his demand was met with ridicule, later with neglect, but as it became clearer that he meant business, political pressure was exerted to change his mind. When other countries, like Iran, wanted payment in other currencies, most notably Euro and Yen, the danger to the dollar was clear and present, and a punitive action was in order. Bush's Shock-and-Awe in Iraq was not about Saddam's nuclear capabilities, about defending human rights, about spreading democracy, or even about seizing oil fields; it was about defending the dollar, ergo the American Empire. It was about setting an example that anyone who demanded payment in currencies other than U.S. Dollars would be likewise punished."
will the arabs comply? (if it's in their interests of course)
(energy bulletin again)
"The Arab oil-exporting countries will eagerly adopt the Euro as a means of diversifying against rising mountains of depreciating dollars. Just like the Russians, their trade is mostly with European countries, and therefore will prefer the European currency both for its stability and for avoiding currency risk, not to mention their jihad against the Infidel Enemy."
petrov goes on to suggest americans would consider unilateral nuclear first strikes or all out 'total' war to preserve the economic hegemony preserved by petro dollars.....
....peace......
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 1869-1948
Another Sign the US May Be Headed for War in Iran:
The cut cables under the sea in the ME. Many cut early in Feb. I saw this as a sign then.
And another sign along with cut cables, the opening of the oil bourse.
hey herongal
thanks for reminding me. i heard that yesterday (cut cables) on another thread, it certainly makes sense - i know i could do a quick google but, where did you first here that?
...peace...
Hello Iowablackbird,
In early February there was much buzz about the cut cables to the internet in Iran and other ME areas, speculating that the cuts were to thwart the opening of the Iranian oil bourse. Some also wondered if this might be a sign of a pending attack on Iran, especially in light of the bourse opening, which would further weaken the dollar.
Here are some links connecting the dots of the
cut cables + Iranian oil bourse + fragile dollar + Bush ME Trip + war games late Feb.
http://www.energybulletin.net/39844.html
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d0f_1202251612
http://www.underthecarpet.co.uk/Pages/NewsArticle.php?num=3958
Viva Smedley Butler.
herongal, thanks...the articles helped put things in perspective.
so it was 10 cables that went down in 3 areas (mediterranean, persian gulf and off the coast of malaysia) w/ in a week or two.
also.. great quote from underthecarpet.....
http://www.underthecarpet.co.uk/Pages/NewsArticle.php?num=3958
"If Iran succeeds in opening its own Oil Bourse it is hard to imagine that the GCC would not trade on the Iranian Oil Bourse, given the extremely close geographic proximity. And it is hard to believe that they would not trade their own oil in their own currency. Otherwise, why have a currency of their own? Clearly they intend to use it. And just as clearly, the three cut or damaged undersea communications cables in the Persian Gulf over the last week deliver a clear message. The United States may be a senescent dinosaur, and it is, but it is also a violent, heavily armed, very angry senescent dinosaur. In the end, it will do what all aged dinosaurs do: perish. But not before it first does a great deal of wild roaring and violent lashing and thrashing about."
...peace...
Well, I don't believe our current leaders display any rationality ~Samski~. And I do believe I offered some prime examples and there are many others. Fear is not the issue, common sense is.
What is happening is happening, the things Bush/Cheney publicly state in regards to Iran are not questionable and it is not sensible to deny those facts. Will they actualy attack Iran with bombing raids? We don't know, but they sure are preparing to do that.
Remember, even Admiral Fallon has addressed that issue, so it is not just I who have that opinion. You mention the cold war stayed cold. Be very thankful that Bush/Cheney and Rumsfeld weren't at the helm during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
hey kem,
how do you think your neighbors would respond to a hard core war economy, with ss troops on the streets, labor camps w/ computer id chip's mandated, and photos of our president at bus stops reminding us of our need to serve the national good. i realize we're all frogs in a big kettle of water that's heating up moment by moment. but in your estimation is their any hope for resistance ?
are americans even capable of effective resistance, we are not unique.
i remember a nice lady down the street from my family in the city i grew up in.
her name was mrs jacobson, she was raised in nazi germany and was a teenager/young adult b/w 35-45, during the hight of fascism. she was a nice person, but as a kid (a few years past ms kraft) i watched her lose her cool at a neighborhood party, when the subject of the war and the concentration camps was discussed amongst the adults. she defended hitler in public, and refused to place responsibility on the german people or leadership (via war & c camps)(although most germans i've met as adults are pacifists) the incident left an impression on me.
then there were the others i met in my youth; one a german who was my philosiphy professor in college and another a ashkenazi jew who owned a grimy cafe i worked at in chicago - they had one thing in common, that 5-6 digit number tattooed on their forearm. one a communist the other a jew. they never discussed those tattoos, they didn't have any other tattoos. i never asked about them, a courtesy.
i question whether the american public is capable of resistance (i recognize the self-defeating tone here). i think our nation parallels fascism in other countries. and i don't sense the american public is capable of understanding these parallels.
i realize i sound like an alarmist, the window of negative possibilities will be left wide open until bush the son steps aside next january.
....peace....
Hi Kem, thank you and all of you for your comments - naturally, I'd like to believe the post on why we won't attack Iran, but never put anything past the neocons.
Regarding Mexico, because I live here in Baja,I feel that if we have a depression and of course the economics will completely affect Mex, that the Mexicans will turn first on their government. After that, I can't say because everything will be completely destabilized. There's no unity here really, the cartels are at war, my town (Rosarito) is now occupied by the Army, the anti-government groups are pretty much fragmented, there is no alliance between the intelligensia, the emerging middle class(what's left of it) and the really poor people - inotherwords, it's a repeat of previous historical patterns of Mexican "revolutions".
Well, (gulp) I hope I'm right, maybe I'm not.
Heh, pray for surf...and peace.
MORE AND MORE ARE SEEING THE REALITY OF NOT PAYING FOR THIS IN APRIL..WILL YOU SIMPLY SPOUT? OR WILL YOU NOT DECLARE? YOUARE PAYING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD..IN MORE WAY'S THAN ONE.
THE ONLY THING THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, IS MONEY..PERIOD! AND THE PAYCHECKS THGAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THESE LITTLE FASCISTS TO SIT AT THEIR LITTLE CUBICLES AND SPY ON MILLIONS OF EMAILS AND WRITE NASTY LITTLE LAWS THAT GRANT MORE AND MORE POWER TO FEWER AND FEWER INDIVIDUALS...IT IS ALL BEING PAID FOR BY THE CITIZENS...ALL OF YOU WHO PAY IN APRIL..FEDERAL INCOME TAX...WHICH BY THE WAY..IT IS ACTUALLY TRUE..NOT A DELUSION..THERE IS NO LAW STATING THAT YOU DO HAVE TO PAY AN "UNAPORTIONED TAX" SUCH AS INCOME TAX...AND YET YOU PAY...YOU SPEAK OF THE EVIL THAT YOU ARE FINANCING...HHHMMMMMM? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE...? OH YEAH! YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY...SURE THEY WILL TERRORIZE YOU INTO THINKING THAT YOU...SHOULD...BUT THEN..WELL..MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR SOME ACTAUL "PROTEST" AND THE ONLY REAL...R-E-A-L POWER WE HAVE LEFT..IS THE POWER OF THE PURSE...A GENERAL TAX STRIKE FOR 2008. LET EM KNOW THE RESULTS OF SO MUCH GREED AND ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM THAT IT CAN NO LONGER BE RATIONALIZED AWAY EVEN BY CITIZENS WHO NORMALLY WOULD BE TOO FRIGHTENED TO NOT PAY...THIS YEAR..THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY..THIS IS IT FOLKS! THIS IS THE TIME WE HOPED WOULD NEVER COME. THEY ARE TAKING OUR RIGHTS DAILY...DAILY..AND YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT!
DON'T! DO NOT DECALRE IN APRIL..NO EXCUSES, NO LETTERS, NO "CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION" JUST..THEY DON'T GET AS MUCH MONEY...HUH? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? AND THEN WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS..
FOR ALL OF OUR VAUNTED "SOPHISTICATION" AS A "MODERN" COUNTRY..THERE IS A FAILING TO SEE EVEN BASIC TRUTHS THAT THOSE 240 YEARS AGO OR SO SAW SO CLEARLY..
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IS NOT OKAY! PERIOD! AND THE FUNNY THING IS..DISRUPTING THEIR LITTLE PLANS..WHAT DO DO WITH ALL YOUR MONEY..WHAT EVIL CAN WE DO THAT WE HAV NOT DONE YET?WELL!..IT IS STILL ALMOST AS SIMPLE AS STORMING A BOAT AND THROWING THE PRODUCT OVER BOARD! JUST DO NOT PAY..AND VOILA' THERE GOES THE MONEY THEY NEED..AND BELIEVE ME FOLKS..THEY NEED EVERY LAST DIME..HOW ELSE CAN THEY AFFORD TO LOSE 9 BILLION IF YOU DON'T KEEP THE COFFERS FULL? FOR THE US GOVERNMENT IS, LIKE MANY CITIZENS THESE DAY'S, ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM FINANCIAL RUIN...AND THIS IS THE ONLY POWER WE HAVE LEFT..THE POWER OF THE PURSE..SO DON'T DO IT..
FINALLY..TO PAY IS TO BE COMPLICIT..REMEMBER, YOU PAY THE SALLERY OF THE PERSON TORTURING A CONFESSION OUT OF A "SUSPECT" (OOPS "ENEMY COMBATANT..." WHICH BY THE WAY IS ANYONE THEY SAY IT IS..READ THE M.C.A IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME...ANYONE..) AND YOU PAY..YOU PAY...YOU PAY...SO DON'T PICK UP THE CHECK THIS YEAR..LEAVE IT ON THE TABLE AND WALK AWAY...
THIS IS NOT A CRIME! IT IS JUSTICE TO AN OUT OF CONTROL GOVERNMENT BEING RUN BY MADMEN..FOR REAL FOLKS..THIS IS FOR REAL..DO NOT PAY...OR LEARN TO LIVE WITH "FRIENDLY FASCISM"...JUST GO OUT AND SHOP..AND TRUST US...OR ELSE!
TGGEVEDON
no-one here gets out alive...........biography, jim morrison.
The United States: spreading like a cancer all over the world.
If Iran is attacked in any manner, the price per barrel of oil will probably triple, as will the price of gas at the pump. Americans might sit still for war crimes, but if/when gas triples in price they'll be so pissed they'll even lose interest in Paris Hilton. Republicans will rightly receive the major portion of the blame, and McInsane would be guaranteed to lose the election. Stupid as Junior is, even he grasps this reality.
WmC, I totally agree that if gas prices skyrocket, the patriotic, flag waving, "Support Our Troops" couch potatoes will be marching in the streets. They don't care a whit about men, women and children being blown to bits in the M.E. But they care a heckuva lot when it affects their pocketbooks.
AMERICA need a lesson from our Chinese Communist Party; how to make friends and MAKE MONEY.
You Americans are too mad; you have dreamed up too many weapons of mass destruction and you want to try it out on live targets. Start a war of course. America is still incapable of learning from your ignoble past. You have not learned that you have great capabilities to DESTROY BUT WEAK AT BUILDING. You are just useless at building be it PEACE or world harmony; learn from the Chinese Communist, they are the ones who know all about peace and to build a world that live in HARMONY,
America has too many rich men; too crazy about money. Money that they cannot take with them when they die. What is the use for the $150 billion of Warren Buffet's treasure trove ? All we need is a simple life, to live well, and the simple things like having a delicious "shark fin soup". Have a family of three and a small house, no worry about not being able to pay off on your small mortgage.
Is it not wonderful to live by the sea or at the foot of a beautiful mountain ? Why do we need billions ? I just don't undeerstand ! China has the greatest policy on every thing ! We only seek to have a moderately well off society, but then China is 10,000 old and America is only a mere 300 years. China has the wisdom of 10,000 years and the USA has the arrogance of 200 years of what you arrogantly call democracy. DEMOCRACY SUCKS ! Give me SOCIALISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS any day.
Yes America will invade Iran and I had seen it 2 years ago, but it was and still is to punish Iran for opting to sell oil in Euros just as good ole Saddam did. This whim of your President Bush is so futile because most of the oil producers have already opted to go Euros for the sale of oil; and the US$ is worth its true value, about the cost of the paper that it is printed on ! Good Bye Yankee dalla !
Hi yap, are you guys gonna Grab Taiwan Back?
(And if you are in Ohio or wherever, I'm still curious for your thoughts.)
Like maybe when the US get stretched too thin after starting war with Iran?
Thanks, mike.
PLEASE, give me a break. China is repressive, we all know that, millions and millions of Chinese are slaves and work for nothing,living in filth and squalor. The Chinese government is incredibly corrupt, there are many millionaires in China, and they don't give a toot about the people. It has to be the god most awful polluted country on the face of the earth, and when the farmers try to organize against the government seizing their lands, what happens? Never freakin heard from again, surrounded by the military and just wiped out to smitherins. What a bunch of crap, unfreakinbelievable.
If that's your idea of pro-active socialism stick it up your rear. Bunch of fawking fascists.
Oh, BTW, thanks for investing millions and being in the process of totally destroying Punta Camalu/Colonet for your stupid fawking Port here. Bullshit !! Go fawk up your own environment and leave Baja alone you greedy pigs.
Why Marjorie Ann March, what a thoughtful post.
Jesus said our tongues reflected our hearts.
Your encourament to 'shove it' was particularly lovely.
You denigrate yourself and the English language.
Marjorie Ann, I sensed some tongue-in-cheek on yap.chongyee's post - e.g., praising the "shark fin soup." (You know: the soup you get by cutting the fins off sharks and then throwing them back into the ocean to slowly suffocate or bleed to death. YYYYYummmy!!!) At least I hope it was tongue-in-cheek.
Well ~MIkepeters~, Jesus used his tongue and a whip to lash with, when it was appropriate. I also don't believe Marjorie Anne was answering you.
Heh mike peters, tell it to the Buddist Monks, and buy somemore Chinese crap while you're at it.
Greetings Majourie March, Sweet Majourie March ! Such profanity from such a lovely eh !..eh.. young lady or is it more likely old lady. I enjoyed reading your fury, well we Chinese are on our best charm mission to win friends, even "friends" who only wish us ill.
I bet you have never been to China, since I sense so much bile in your tirade; but all the same I also must have pricked your boiling point and that tells me that what I said hit your "nail" on your head. It really makes my day when I can send palls of hot steam up your head. Poor helpless Miss Majourie March, all you know is anger that is why you do not know what is right or what is wrong ! Just so much heat !
I hope you realise that while you go bomb ! bomb ! bomb ! Iran, we China-man go make friends with Iran and on a whole we seem to have come out slightly ahead and we spent not a dime bombing Iran. Yes China is well qued in with our Friend President Ahmadinajad, maybe we get fresh new oil leases for holding your Americans from 3rd round of UN sanctions to maybe a slap on the wrist ?
And to Anne Faith March (any relative of the other ? ) Noooo ! I really meant the real stuff, Yammy !
China is really a very beautiful land, my family of 4 including son in law, spent only US$4,000 each for a 6 weeks tour including a tour of the famous 3 Gorges Dam. We went thorugh 8 cities and all including air-fares totalled US$4,000. Meals of 4 to 5 courses totalled only US$20 for all 4 of us. Yes everything is so cheap and YET China buys from the USA US$30 billion of Boeing air craft everytime our President Hu visits your country; we build the largest Beijing Airport in the world (over 1.3 sq. metres of covered space) spent another US$50 billion preparing for the Olympics EVER. Built our famous Air port in just 4 years, which it was admitted by foreign architects who worked on the project will have taken the USA over at least 15 years to complete.
Yes ! America has taken the back seat. Just yesterday the EU has overtaken the USA as the biggest economy in the world (FIRST TIME); but to my thinking it is China that has over-taken the USA as No 1 not the EU. Do you not fear that China has come from 139th place in world ranking just 20 years ago to become the world's No ?
I can go on but my wife has called me for lunch ! Family day on Sunday !
Hey YAP, ever seen Newark airprt? We started building it in earnest in the early 1940s and were still building it, it's a vehicular driving and parking nightmare. Also our JFK is a dump, dirtiest airport I've ever seen and traffic jams in the terminal areas is another nightmare.
Of course unless she has, Marjorie should visit China before being over critical. Of course then too, I understand that she lives in Mexico.
People keep talking about volunteer soldiers as if they have a choice on whether to go to war or not. Today's American soldiers only volunteer to join the military. Once they're in, they don't have choices on their military activities. Since time immemorial, soldiering has had a romantic, heroic appeal to the minds and hearts of young men (and women). This is elemental human nature, they cannot be faulted for that. I say that the blame for the atrocities of the Iraq war lay squarely at the feet of the very top of the chain of command, and with those he colludes with, including politicians, high-ranking career officers, war profiteers, and hawkish government think tanks.
People keep talking about volunteer soldiers as if they have a choice on whether to go to war or not. Today's American soldiers only volunteer to join the military. Once they're in, they don't have choices on their military activities. Since time immemorial, soldiering has had a romantic, heroic appeal to the minds and hearts of young men (and women). This is elemental human nature, they cannot be faulted for that. I say that the blame for the atrocities of the Iraq war lay squarely at the feet of the very top of the chain of command, and with those he colludes with, including politicians, high-ranking career officers, war profiteers, and hawkish government think tanks.
Hey KEM,
I remember the good all days when the Newark Airport had just the one building and parking was a breeze. Never liked JFK Airport, with the traffic and all. I usually fly into Newark and finally got used to all the terminals.
Marjorie Ann,
I've seen documentaries on the sweatshops in China and when a foreigner speaks to one of the workers,(this particular one was a construction worker) a "security" guy stands close by eavsdropping. China is so full of contradictions. It went from a communist society to an authoritarian capitalist police state. You have the extremes in people as well. The peasant or common folk are genuine and would literally give you the shirts off their backs, and you have the old "war lord" crooks who are the ruling elite of today.
They are coming up in the world and have patience and history on their side. In the fullness of time, they'll make the right moves and it will be over for the US.
lost_progressive,
We have the most corrupt, contemptible government in our nation's history and after seven years of lawbreaking and illegal manuvering by this administration, why would a person join the military to be a gangster for the coward-in-chief? Since time immemorial, the smarter man was able to con the not so smart man to kill and rob for him. The smarter man stays out of harm's way but glorifies the flunky who's thinking he controls. It's the same approach in every country or society on this globe. When the non-thinking people begin to think and discern what's really going on behind closed doors, the game will cease and humans will actually get along with one another.
KEM, A lot of laughs on the clothesline story. What article comes next? Maybe one on paper or plastic at the store.
peaceman, That's easy. Most Americans are trained by TV and standard media to trust that their government is good and is doing the right thing. (How else would Bush have been re-elected in 2004?) My sense is that most Americans, and especially those young people who join the military, are not informed (or not convinced) about the atrocities that this and most other governments do. They don't have a clue that we have 'the most corrupt, contemptible government in our nation's history'. They want to do their 'patriotic duty'. Thus, they're naive and led along easily into the killing machine.
For you and I, and most readers on this forum, it's a different story. I doubt you'd see any of us even begin to think about enlisting.
yap-Hi, I'm still curious, any thoughts about 'Taiwan'
thanks, mike.
lost_progressive,
The thing is, the information has been out there exposing this imperialistic, fascist regime in D.C. This is why I started using the term, "willfully ignorant," for the folks who blindly believe the crooks and liars and are willing to leap off the precipice for them without regard as to why they should sacrifice life and limb and their souls, for the same bunch of degenerate pieces of scum who never served in the military and avoided it like the plague.
Unfortunately, I was one of those non-thinking young men who believed the government and enlisted way back when. For the past forty years I've been talking with our young ones around the country on conflict resolution , pacifism, and universal communalism.(one for all and all for one). Some listened and made the right choice and others told me to get lost. They prefer the macho man approach. All we can do is educate and encourage people to think for themselves.
I recently dreamed that the pentagon, white house, and wall street complex were totally blow up in the middle of the night. It was a very good dream.
Those three places are the headquarters for our most horrific domestic enemies. Sadly, the poor bastards don't seem to know any better.
MaxheMust,
Go quickly to David Kreiger's article. The censors are trying to shut me up again.
WTF does that mean,"...of course then too I understand she lives in Mexico"??? Yep, I do, couldn't stand the freakin congestion in San Diego after being born and raised there. Here's my site: http://marjorieanndrake.blogspot.com/
Yes, we have been to China.
Also, I just love how the Chinese gangstas censor the internets. wow, wonder why that is ? heehee, bullshit.
I am not anti-Chinese people, I am anti-Chinese bullshit government.
Hei Margy ! You just wanna get you claws into our Chinese people because you just can't see the likes of a successful Communist government. You Americans better get used to a great China like of 10,000 years of culture.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a new model for good government, and your American model for "democraze" is old shit. The third world is gravating towards China's model and Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Middle east are all seeing the light and they want what the Chinese have; SOCIALISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.
My Blogg. is at http://yap.chongyee.blogspot.com
It's Maggie, not Margy but WHATEVER !!! Oh right, heehee, that's why you guys LOST the bid to develop your new shit cars here in Baja, noone wants the shit that falls apart, and BTW, my dad was a China Marine.
Get lost and dream on, your government sucks and how about this for vulgar, FUCK BUSH, heehee lookie there, I can say that here or in the States and not be put in a prison camp or have my brains blown out....yet anyway.
And that my little Chinese friend, is a huge difference between your government and mine.
BTW, if your government is so freakin great, why don't they get the Japs to compensate your people for war crimes, comfort women and medical research done on them prior to and during WWII???
Heh, how come you aren't BLOCKED like everyone else in China? Oh, I see, only the elite have access to the internet.
Hey yap! I'm afraid Marjorie Ann has bitch-slapped you.
BTW - I'm OK with socialism, but not the way China has been doing it - at the barrel of a gun.
There are more internet users in China than in the USA. You are the typical American stereotypical America red neck; spouting stock slogans.
You Americans say that every American can be President but then it will costs a candidate US$500 million to run a campaign; what does that say for your ridiculously insane system; at least under our system the best and brightest gets to be President and he need not spend tha shit that your USA insanity requires. Freedom of speech an American human right but your government monitors every American like the good ole "1984", if I may say so, only the USA is closest to the nightmare of "1984". Torture is an American human right and the USA has the cheek to lecture us in the third world about American democrazy, but what about Abu Ghraib ? What about Guantanamo ? What about that shit like RENDITION not even Ghenzhi Khan could think up the Animal inhumanity of the Americans torturers.
China today is the examplar of a free nation that totally looks after their own citizens as no other nations do. The USA is on the other hand the most cruel and restrictive imperial power on earth; you killed by radio active bombs and by gas, more than 1 million Iraqis and put another 2.5 million Iraqis homeless and living in the most dire conditions of no water and no roof over their head. You dispersed over another 2.5 million Iraqis into exile to all nations of the world. If there is a God and I say there isn't America is now feeling the retribution of God and for all the suffering that you Americans have sown in the world, the USA is now GOING BROKE !
LOOK AT THE WORLD SITUATION TODAY AND DO ADMIT THAT CHINA IS ON THE ASCENDENCY AND THE USA IS IN DEEP DECLINE. The USA is already broke. I said that over 2 years ago but today you are IT.
And here for Mr. Wo Fat are this evenings headlines on Tibet:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23655386
Goodnight everyone.
China will invade Taiwan when the timing is right for them Mike. Most likely when our military, including the navy has been broken as badly as our army and Natioal Gaurd are.
That "Fuck Bush" was neat Marjorie.___ LOL.
Did you know that all two million of the Chinese army are highly trained experts in Kung FU, sword and konfe fighting, all three methods of that hand to hand combat art. They will march twenty or more miles and fight to the death. Their new atomic submarines are better at stealth than ours. Recently, during An American naval exercise in the Pacific, a Chinese sub surfaced in their midst and no one knew it was there until it popped up and their captain waved a cheery hello. _____ Scary.
Our military is now locked into electronic and satellite war-fare. We are totally dependent upon it. If there is any disruption of that, we are screwed royally.
KEM -- About the subs, we probably "forgot" that the technology for super smooth and exactly round ball bearings (part of mechanical support of drive shaft), was the reason our subs used to better than everyone else's.
dumb, dumb. Looks like the profit motive lead some knowledge challenged McMIC outsource contractor to sell the farm, and have them build our "balls" for us. Or if not, their spies were able to lift the relevant details, or paid enough for them. Or perhaps, we just want more competition to bump up military expenditures.
Namaste